This year I did a backdoor Roth IRA (made a non-deductible contribution in 2012 and immediately converted it to a Roth in 2012).

I entered this into TurboTax and Part II is correctly filled out. However, in Part I, line 8 is empty.

I called up TurboTax and the lady mentioned that because what I did is considered a "recharacterization" as it occurred in the same year, and thus line 8 would not be filled in. She didn't seem too sure though.

Can someone tell me if a Backdoor Roth IRA should have line 8 filled out on Form 8606?

Yeah I did read it over and my impression was that this is a conversion and not a recharacterization as the IRS rules state:

"Any recharacterized conversion or Roth IRA rollover from a qualified retirement plan will be treated as though the conversion or rollover had not occurred. Any recharacterized contribution will be treated as having been originally contributed to the second IRA, not the first IRA."

Since I couldn't have originally contributed to a Roth IRA to begin with (hence the Backdoor), it seems this needs to be considered a "conversion" and not a "recharacterization".

However I'm not a tax expert nor very familiar with the backdoor Roth process so I figured I'd ask you guys.

This year I did a backdoor Roth IRA (made a non-deductible contribution in 2012 and immediately converted it to a Roth in 2012).

I entered this into TurboTax and Part II is correctly filled out. However, in Part I, line 8 is empty.

I called up TurboTax and the lady mentioned that because what I did is considered a "recharacterization" as it occurred in the same year, and thus line 8 would not be filled in. She didn't seem too sure though.

Can someone tell me if a Backdoor Roth IRA should have line 8 filled out on Form 8606?

Yeah I did visit that site. I deleted my 1099-R, followed his instructions to the T (except minor version issues) and my Form 8606 does not have lines 8, 9, or 10 populated hence why I think this may be an error.

spefactor wrote:Yeah I did visit that site. I deleted my 1099-R, followed his instructions to the T (except minor version issues) and my Form 8606 does not have lines 8, 9, or 10 populated hence why I think this may be an error.

FWIW my 2011 8606 completed by my CPA doesn't have Part I completed. Part II is completed. Based on my reading of the instructions, I believe Part I should have been completed, but if my understanding is accurate, it doesn't change the tax calculation. I'll ask my CPA why they (their software more accurately) didn't complete Part I, but I'm not too concerned.

In certain situations, some tax software handles the indented lines 6-12 of Form 8606 via a worksheet as a programming shortcut, and it does not create a problem with the IRS as long as Part II is correct.

First, look at your 1099R to confirm that this was processed as a conversion. Box 7 should NOT show a recharacterization code of R. Once that is verified, was there any difference between your contribution amount and your converted amount? If no difference, then line 14 would also be -0- and no taxable amount would show on line 18.

Thanks for the help Alan. My distribution code on 1099-R is 2, line 14 is 0, and line 18 is 0.

It looks like everything is calculated correctly on those parts. Still, I would have hoped to see something filled in on the indented section (6-12). Just checked TaxAct and it has it. My 2011 return (TurboTax) had these sections filled in as well. I guess I'll be ok though.

I can confirm this annoying behavior (blank lines 6-12 in Part I of Form 8606) in TurboxTax offline/CD Home and Business 2014. This is doing a standard $5500 backdoor Roth conversion with no preexisting TIRA basis for myself and DW.

This is my first year doing the backdoor so I'm a little nervous, but reassured by this thread.